Fire broke out in a downtown Erie home Sunday evening, displacing at least three Gannon University students and other occupants.
The historic home — with 10 of a dozen occupied apartments inside — is at 238 West 6th Street.
The first firefighters on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from the second floor.
Erie Fire Marshal Adam Gatti tells us a maintenance man using a plumbing torch to thaw pipes accidentally sparked the fire in a wall.
The flames spread up through the second floor to the attic.
Gannon University is already helping two students move into on-campus housing in Harborview Apartments. A third student headed home to stay with family.
Two apartments had the most damage, and the law office next door opened its doors to keep those evacuated safe and warm.